Saturday, 15 April 2017
Winter
Winter has arrived in my marsh and frost and the first skimming of ice greet me at the water's edge. I spend little time here in the shade of Portage Bay but instead head through the 'crossing under place' to meet the sun in Union Bay. It is calm.

Across from Birch Island I spot 4 raccoons. I was just about to coast the east side of the cattails in hope of flushing a snipe or two, but the sighting of a mother raccoon and her 3 kits drew me over. They are as curious about me as I am about them. We watch each other for nearly a half hour. When the canoe drifts too close, they walk back into the cattails. When I back away a few feet, they return. They stand on hind legs trying to catch my scent in an almost windless day. One plays with an old skinless tennis ball.

I paddle north 75 yards and pause to write, just after flushing a snipe, in my notebook. I look back towards Birch Island and see something swimming across the gap. It is too small for an otter and not serpentine enough in motion either. Fortunately, I see it exit the water...it is a mink. I have traveled less than 400 yards in this bay and already I have seen 4 raccoons, a mink, a snipe, a cackler goose (a mallard-sized Canada goose subspecies I am told). I could go home right now and it would be considered a most excellent day.
This is the season in the marsh that few know about.
On #1 island I find a kill sight where an eagle has dismembered what probably was a coot. I find my bird expert friend, C, near North Point and she points out 2 swans that have come in with the cold (they usually only come here on the coldest of days) and warns me to watch for a bittern that she has seen recently. As we chat, I pull a 1950's whitewall tire from the cold water. They always look better propped up in the center of my canoe than in the lake.
I continue my rounds, checking the wild parts of the bay for change. I feel the winter cold in my feet, which is to be expected, but the calm makes the trip comfortable. The migratories are present, the teal, the common mergansers, hooded mergansers, widgeons, gadwalls, northern shovelers, and coot. Winter is back.
Winter Birds
I set out from just inside the mouth of the river, not far from the sea, and head inland with a stiff breeze in my face, a breeze that makes the extra meanders across the river to the lee of the windward bank worthwhile.
It is a clear sky above, as blue as it gets here on the east coast with 3000 miles of land for the prevailing winds to cross over. On the west coast in similar conditions the sky would be a pure blue color that almost hurts the eyes to look at...the visual equivalent of a pure aural tone.

The spartina has finally given up all of its green. It is now clad in greys below the high tide mark and reds and golds above. But, it still stands proud, the mild autumn having produced no snow to push the grasses flat. The birds are winter birds, relatively few in number and spaced well out except for the ducks. It is crows and gulls until I get to the stone arch bridge where I flush a great blue heron. Just beyond that, I watch 3 hooded mergansers by peeking around the next bend.
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hooded merganser |

I have passed the nose of the tide by the time I reach the Foote Bridge, the current against me and the water shallow enough to signal my return.
Wednesday, 22 March 2017
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Saturday, 18 March 2017
November Winter Paddle
Hope my American visitors had an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday this weekend. Up here, Central Ontario had its first significant snowfall on Saturday. Just so happened we were at the cottage lake during this time. Haven't been in the canoe since early August so despite the slightly chilly temps of -8°C, a quick paddle on the lake was must. Here's a shot by the shore with the sprinkling of snow on the disassembled boat slips.

Stayed close to the shoreline where water levels were quite low. In shallow water, I've become partial to the small Birch Cree paddle that was reshaped from a kids paddle back in 2010. Nice wide tip in case you scrape the bottom with an interesting design that works well in shallow or deep water.
Not much in terms of wildlife anymore as the lake is preparing for another slumbering winter season. However, did get a splashy show from this small flock of Canadian Geese...

Unfortunately I completely missed the fall leaf colour change this year but heard from many folks that it was stunningly vibrant compared to previous seasons. The winter view was a nice consolation prize...

Also got a chance to test out the recently completed c1839 Minnesota Voyageur replica. Just at this moment, the sun peaked out behind some clouds lighting up the warm cherry hues of the paddle and the golden white cedar. Was a nice contrast to the chilly black water and otherwise bland background colours.

Here's a clumsy shot trying to take a pic of the paddle grip in action. Despite having some bulky wool mittens on, the flattened grip was comfortable enough for a relaxed paddle stroke. The small, roll top grip was sufficient for gripping in the usual manner, but I found it worked best as a "stopper" of sorts when holding the grip along the edge


Thursday, 9 March 2017
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Friday, 3 March 2017
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